Technology isn’t just getting better, it’s getting more personal.
Back in August, Brian Cooley, senior technology editor at CNET for over 25 years, spoke at our leadership conference about how the point of AI is to amplify the human experience. One of the many opportunities he presented is the emerging technology behind digital twins.
The idea of creating models of products and processes for manufacturing has been around for a while. By building digital versions of IRL objects and systems, engineers can take advantage of iterative testing and validation in a virtual world, where it is much more cost- and time-efficient.
But what Brian Cooley was talking about was personal digital twins — literally, a data-based version of ourselves that could be leveraged to create all kinds of benefits. Think about the algorithms Netflix and Amazon use to suggest titles or products you might be interested in. Now put that on steroids. Your digital twin is a composite of data that is unique to you. And you can have your digital twin take on tasks that you are unable or reluctant to perform yourself.
For example, a virtual twin assembled from your medical records, wearable devices, DNA profile, and social media posts could be used to develop a personalized health treatment plan, determining your tolerance to certain medications and even the likelihood of successfully undergoing surgery. Your child’s scores in school, doctor’s notes, counseling, Federal educational assessment profiles, gaming history, and extra-curricular activities might be used to customize a tutoring program that helps her better enjoy learning while getting more out of it.
It’s not hard to see how this could benefit those of us in the events industry who strive every day to make the trade shows and conferences we host more relevant and meaningful for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. The opportunity to personalize content grows exponentially. But the real bonus, as Brian Cooley pointed out, is that we can send our digital twins to every event of interest and have them deliver a curated report.
Show organizers who get ahead of this curve can design events with a virtual layer (or whatever VR looks like at that point) designed to host digital twins. They can shop vendors, attend lectures, and have your twin call my twin. And if the organizers are smart, they will monetize the digital experience at a reasonable price point that invites mass participation. Then, they can reinvest in a more exclusive in-person event experience, with robust interactions, deeper connections, and greater rewards.
That’s just one way AI-generated digital twins can further the human experience. The opportunity is exponential. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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